The Day Jac Hawkins Quit Being A Coroner

Send us Fan MailSupport the showWhy would anyone walk away from a role defined by power, prestige, and purpose?*Please take care while listening—this episode includes references to suicide. If this brings anything up for you, support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14.Jac Hawkins is one half of the podcast duo and today she tells her own story of that day.Jac had what most people would call an important job. As Victoria’s Deputy State Coroner, she spent her days leading inquests, facing the media, and sitting in the aftermath of unimaginable loss. It was high pressure, high profile, and from the outside, deeply purposeful work.But somewhere along the way, something inside her started to unravel.She was holding everyone else’s worst days and the grief of so many families while quietly losing herself in the process.Until one day the noise got too loud to ignore. Her soul was screaming.At her lowest point, Jac found herself contemplating taking her own life.So she walked away. From the job, the identity, the version of success she’d worked so hard to build.What came next wasn’t some glossy reinvention. It was slower and messier than that. There was space for the first time in years, but also a lot to confront. The patterns she’d lived by, the need to please, the constant pushing and striving and the familiar voice that told her she had to keep proving herself.Like so many women, she found herself up against imposter syndrome all over again only this time, there was no title to hide behind.But in that space, something shifted.Jac began to rebuild her life in a completely different way. One that didn’t rely on pressure or perfection or ego. One that made room for both strength and softness.Now, she’s on a mission to challenge the way women have been taught to lead, to show that we don’t have to harden ourselves to be taken seriously, and that there’s power in doing things differently.This is a story about walking away from everything you thought defined you and figuring out who you are when it’s all stripped back.Link to Jac's "before and after" photo referenced in the episode.For more information about Jac, head to her website or follow her on Instagram @litwithincoaching. ⚠️ Our episodes contain conversations about difficult life experiences. Some episodes include coarse language and themes such as childhood trauma, sexual assault, infant loss and references to suicide. Please take care while listening and prioritise your wellbeing. If this episode brings up anything for you, support is available:Lifeline – 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 46 36 Headspace – 1800 650 890Support the show:Subscribe for new episodes every week!Follow us on Instagram @ThatDayPodcastHave a story to share? Email us at [email protected] assistance from John Hresc at Sydney Sound Brewery and Rory Fox at Flatline Productions.